Rough Scan
"THE LORDS" YESTERDAY morning Betty an’ me were in Argyll Street, an’ seeing a great crood I spiered at a big laddie what it was aboot, an’ he said it wis a wild beast show coming in. Sae I got Betty planted up against a lamp-post tae wait for the procession. In a wee I hears a great crying "They’re coming!" "they’re coming!" Betty grippit me by the airm, as she whispered, "Gudesake, Jeems, I hope nane o’ the teegurs ‘ll break oot." Seeing a sweetie shop handy tae rin intae, I whispered tae her that there was nae fear; an’ getting a bit lassie planted before me as a sop tae throw tae the teegurs, I waited patiently. First cam’ aboot ten raws o’ heartbroken-looking men, unco prood like, tho’, as if the crood wis gethered tae dae honour tae them; then cam’ twa or three thoosand ragamuffins. I never thocht Glesca contained hauf sae mony ne’er-do-weels as was there. They were nae doot hurryin’ awa doon tae get in before the crush, altho’, if they liket, they micht hae taen—no’ only the show, but the haill Trongate by storm. Then cam’ an extraor’nar fine man in kilts, wi’ a big feather hat, followed by twelve braw fallows playin’ the bagpipes an’ drums; an’ then a wheen polismen, a’ wi’ new blue suits an’ white gloves, wi’ three prisoners atween them—fine, weel-dressed gentlemen they were, wi’ axes. Next there appeared the Provost an’ Bailies, a’ in coaches an’ cocked hats, wi’ postillions. It struck me it maun be an extraor’nar fine show whan they cood get the Provost an’ Bailies tae turn oot in the procession, till I heard somebody sayin’ it was "the Lords." Weel a weel, I thocht tae mysel’, it was strange that sich a palaver wis made aboot tryin’ a wheen folk for stealin’ pocket naipkins. Then cam’ folk mounted on omnibus horses, with cockit hats, tootlin’ awa’ on bits o’ brass trumpets, an playin’ an Italian tune, a gentleman said—I kent it was nae Scotch tune, onyway; it micht hae been a Chinese ane for ony music there wis in it tae me. Then six or seven carriages, fu’ o’ judges wi’ wigs on, a’ lauchin’ awa’ an' no seeming tae care a straw for the sorrowfu’ wark they were tae be engaged in. Then a wheen mair pegs; then the fower executioners wi’ their axes a’ ready—weel sharpened, nae doot. Betty said tae me she thocht they hung the folk; but I said, "My woman, they used tae dae that, but noo, ye ken, it’s a’ dune in private, an’ I suppose they think cuttin’ their heids aff is the quickest way; at onyrate, there they are; ye'll surely believe yer ain een," an’ she at once agreed wi’ me. But the maist sorrowfu’ o't was tae come. In a fine big coach, wi’ fewer horses, sat twa respectable auld gentlemen, weel put on, wi’ lang white hair. They must hae been guilty o’ some fearfu’ crime, for they were guarded roon an' roon wi’ sodgers wi’ fixed bayonets, in case they wid rin awa’. My heart wis sair for them ga'in doon tae be tried—for their lives, likely—an’ them auld enough tae be gran'faithers —sae innocent like, tae, that I wis feart, BAILIE, that they had made some mistake an’ grippit the wrang men. But it’s a sad worl’, BAILIE; ye canna trust yer next door neebor. I wis sae heart-sair that I got Betty awa’ in tae a British Workman Public-hoose, an' ca’ing for twa cups o’ tea an' twa cookies, I turned my face tae the back window, whaur there wis nae eye tae see me bit twa cats—a red ane an' a white ane—sittin’ on the slates o’ the washin’-hoose, all I wept for puir frail humanity. I can add nae mair, but I hope tae see in the papers the twa puir auld gentlemen hae either get aff wi’ not proven," or else, on accoont o’ their years, wi' a sma’ punishment with-oot hard labour.